Paraguay’s Almirón Sees Red for Covering His Mouth Under New IFAB Rule
Asunción, Paraguay — In a historic and controversial moment during Friday’s World Cup Group D clash, Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent—a direct application of a new International Football Association Board (IFAB) law introduced in April.
The incident occurred in first-half added time after a foul on Paraguay's Isidro Pitta. Almirón, while confronting Turkey's Mert Müldür, covered his mouth with his hand. Müldür then reported the gesture to the assistant referee, prompting a VAR review by referee Iván Barton.
The red card was issued under a new IFAB rule that makes covering the mouth during confrontations a red-card offense. The rule change was implemented following a similar incident involving Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni.
Almirón will now miss Paraguay's final group match against Australia, with a potential extension by FIFA's disciplinary committee. Despite the red card, Paraguay held on to win the match 1-0.